The other evening as i was walking home from work along the street i often walk, full of people, out of nowhere a street kid with a knife came up behind me and cut the strap of my small bag- i heard nothing but felt something (the knife), wheeled around and yelled- he backed off without the bag- i looked increduously at him and he looked like he was about to try for another lunge! i unthinkingly yelled mwizi! ' thief'. luckily people didn't react! and after thinking about another dash for me/my bag he disappeared-
hmmm. it's sobering how i didn't hear or sense a thing until he was upon me- good wake up call. Seems theft with knives is up since high tourist season has begun- my gentle thoughtful organic trainer colleague keeps insisting the answer is to kill them all. Round up the street kids who've been given no opportunities in the world, and kill them\? yes i think so, he says. i am trying to appeal to his organic sense. if farmers have pest problems we ask them about their compost, rather than prescribe pesticides. soil health = plant health = fewer pests. So what about all these people walking by the four year olds on the street with no home and no hope of education complaining about street kid crime? on the otherhand, the villagers have no working police protection, and deserve to defend themselves from those terrorizing their villages- bands of theives showing up with machetes at night. A cheery post today!